Our Neighbors

I have to tell you that I am beyond blessed to have such wonderful neighbors. I never thought I'd say this, but it's extremely difficult to live in a city with a child and be hours away from your family. God knew what He was doing when He sent us to the house between a doctor one side and a nurse on the other side. Isn't that amazing?? We see the house and fall in love with it because of it's features, space, etc. but God had a bigger and better reason for us to be here! Anyway, I have called both of my neighbors many times to ask questions about Savannah and even showed up on one doorstep at 10pm one night with a baby that was turning blue. They are wonderful!

Just today, for example, I'd reached my breaking point with Savannah. Even after calling the doctor twice yesterday and once today, I just feel like something is wrong with her stomach. Of course there's nothing that they can do for a virus, so here we are, waiting it out. She has not had much of an appetite and screams every time I try to change a diaper, feed her, give her milk, wipe her nose, or heaven forbid I try to feel for incoming teeth. WHEW!! Anyway, I was trying to calm her down so I helped her get into the rocker in the nursery. It wasn't five seconds before she headed for the end table (like she normally does) but this time she took a nose dive right over the edge of the chair. Now I'm sitting there watching this happen and as I reach for her legs it's too late . . . she's head first in the floor after hitting her forehead pretty hard on the table. So, what do I do, call my neighbor Mrs. Marlene. Long story short, after heading over to her house with both of us crying Savannah is now playing there for a little bit. What a relief to know that she's in good hands . . . and a little break for mommy.

Please be praying for Savannah as this virus/teething issue passes and for Dave as he just called me from work saying that he's sick too, not good timing here at month end!

Afternoon in the Park

On Saturday we organized an outing for our Sunday school class to a local park where they were showing a movie outside. Although we didn't stay for the movie, it was nice to hang out with a few couples before bedtimes approached. Savannah did great even though it was over an hour past her bedtime. She got her first feel of really thick grass and didn't seem to like it much. The first picture shows her examining the ground and the second one is of her trying to lift her legs off of that itchy grass.

New Noises

Savannah is so funny! Just this week she has really started to mimic what we do and the sounds we make (uh oh). Her favorite thing for the weekend has been sniffing over and over. I'm still trying to capture it on camera because it's absolutely hilarious to see her scrunch her face and sniff. She even makes herself laugh. She's also learned to click her tongue on the roof of her mouth . . . and does it quite frequently.

Another little step of progress is that she can stand without holding onto anything for about 5 seconds. I know it's not much time, but it's definitely progress! I can't wait for her to start walking!!

Here's a picture of her favorite face to make while saying "ooohhhhh". We call it the fish face.

Grand Day

I'm excited to report that yesterday was a wonderful day . . . for me and for Savannah. We had a great morning starting with her drinking an entire bottle from her new sippy cup. Thanks Heather for the suggestion to use Nuby cups!! They are working great. I just decided that it was the day and we haven't used any bottles since. I know it's only been a little over a day, but I'm holding strong. She didn't like drinking her nightime milk last night from the cup, but she soon realized that it was that or nothing and drank most of it! :) YIPPEE!

Then I had a chance for a little ME time. My sweet friend Elizabeth volunteered to keep Savannah so I could drive uptown to visit with Jessica, who just had a baby. What a special time to be able to see baby Kathryn ~ she's SO beautiful and tiny ~ it almost makes me think about having another baby. It was so nice to get out for awhile without Savannah and to know that she was having the time of her life playing with her friend Jack. Here is a couple of pictures of them. They're too cute together, but boy are we in for some trouble!



Finally, the day wrapped up with our Bible study group. I so cherish these girlfriends and honestly don't know what I would do without them. I LOVE ALL OF YOU GIRLS!! All in all it was a grand day. Thank you Lord for showing me today how blessed I am and for giving me a truly awesome day.

A Job Like No Other

I just want to take a minute and really share what's been on my heart today. Lately I've really been struggling with being a stay at home mom. The frustration of not knowing why Savannah is being so fussy all day, not knowing how much or what to feed her, not knowing how long she should be sleeping during the day, etc. has been driving me crazy and actually made me question God's plan for me. Add to that my own agenda of chores and errands that I need (okay, want) to get accomplished and I've just been overwhelmed. I'm even guilty of jokingly trying to give Savannah away to friends, her pediatrician, and even strangers.

It wasn't until this morning when I was reading a friend's blog when it hit me . . . I am Savannah's mom. This is my job. No, it's not easy, but it is exactly where God wants me. He doesn't want me in the workplace. He doesn't want me to be stressed over mystery shops and running errands, but He has shown me today where He wants me ~ here in the floor of my living room spending time with Savannah. Loving her, teaching her, learning with and from her, reading to her, getting dirty again and again together, sharing meals together, and enjoying her precious life. God blessed our lives with her and who am I to question why things aren't perfect?

I have definitely been convicted this morning of not spending enough quality time with Savannah, of wishing away the hours until Dave gets home, of rushing around from place to place trying to check things off of my list, of time spent right here in front of this computer . . . God has given me a job like no other and I intend to start making it my top priority. After all, I've already given up house cleaning, so what's a few errands too?? Here's a picture of what my job involves, being a wife and mommy.

Rough Afternoon

Savannah was unusually fussy all day yesterday. Although it's quite normal for her to need attention ALL of the time and to cry when she's not getting it, I just sensed that something was different all day. As Dave and I were counting down the hours until bedtime we finally decided to just bathe her, give her some milk, and put her in front of the TV so we could enjoy our steaks we'd just grilled.

Well, it wasn't 3 minutes after sitting down to eat that Savannah came crying to the kitchen table. So, trying to preserve some of the peace, I picked her up and was attempting to hold her while eating my dinner . . . then, you guessed it, she threw up all over me. It was awful! So, after another bath and changing both of our clothes, we decided that we should probably just put her to bed. Dumb idea. Again, we sat down to dinner and after about two bites she started screaming violently. We rushed upstairs and found her covered in more throw up. Only this was worse because everything on her was covered, the bumper pads were covered, the sheets were soaked, and when I picked her up the food was just falling all over the carpet on the way to the tub. Nothing I have ever smelled was worse than this and now we were both covered again. So Dave sat watching her in the tub while I changed the bedding, bathed her a third time, changed her PJs, and rocked her for awhile before putting her back to bed. Oh yeah, as for that dinner that we'd hoped to eat in peace, I just threw mine away.

Thankfully, she slept through the night and didn't have any more episodes, but she still just isn't normal this morning. We went for our regular morning run and she started screaming only 10 minutes into the run so we headed home, me carrying her in one arm and pushing the stroller with the other hand.

Is this because of the whole milk? Did she get a virus from the nursery? I'm clueless, but we're headed to see Dr. Baker today.

Transition Phase One Complete

WE ARE FINALLY ON WHOLE MILK, 100%!!!!! I don't know what makes me more excited, that we don't have to buy formula anymore, that we've accomplished one thing the doctor told us we needed to do, or that she even drank one serving out of her sippy cup today!! Way to go Savannah. Thankfully her tummy seems to already be adjusted to the whole milk. The next phase involves getting rid of those bottles.